Clamp



SeP-f 25, 1934- J D. PRESLEY y 1,974,628

CLAMP Filed April 16, 1932 [s Fg- I...

Patented Sept. 25, 1934 y, UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLAMP J.l Donald Presley, Wickliife, Ohio, assignor to The Cleveland Crane & Engineering Company, Wickliife, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application April 16, 1932, Serial No. 605,621

11 Claims. (Cl, 248-32) This invention relates to beam clamps for use opening 17 and this seat is adapted to support generally with I-beams or other iianged superthe rounded head 18 of a hanger rod 19. The structures and which are particularly adapted for rod 19 extends through the opening 17, which attaching flexible hangers for suspending the is somewhat larger in diameter than the rod, to-

* tracks of an overhead system, the invention hav-4 permit the .latter to swing in substantially any 60" ing for one of its objects to provide a clamp of directionwithin the limits permitted by the open improved construction which, when secured to ing. j The hanger rod 19 forms a support for a the flanges of the beam or other structure, is suspended track (not shown) which may be ateffectively held against creeping movement theretached to the rod in any suitable manner.

along. The hanger bar 10 is preferably of uniform 05C Another object of the present invention is to Width from end to end and the inclined bottom produce a clamp having sol-called universal surfaces` 14 and 15 are of uniform transverse adaptation, or one which may be used with beams curvature. The bar 10 is adapted to be secured having lianges of variouswidths and thicknesses against the outer side of the beam flange 13 by within certain predetermined limits. means of clips `20 which are U-shaped and 10i Another object of the invention is to` produce formedto fit upon the exterior of the bar 10, the a clamp which is simple in construction, efficient clips also having inclined bottom portions 21 in operation andinexpensive to manufacture. engageable with the inclined bottom surfaces `Further and additional objects and advantages 14 and 15 of the bar 10 and slidable therealong,

20 residing in the invention will become apparent The clips 20 further have upwardly extending 75L.- hereinafter during the detailed description `of an sides 22 which overlie the flanges 11 of the bar embodiment of the invention which is to follow 10 and at their upper ends the sides 22 have andwhchjs illustrated in the accompanyinginwardly extending integral projections or lugs drawing. 23. The lugs 23 are provided with aligned open- Referring to the drawing: ings 24 near the lower portion thereof which piv- 80WA Figure 1 is atransverse section through a beam otally receive lllnnOnS 25 fOImed 1111011 the 0D- showing in side elevation aclamp embodying the posite ends of a bearing block or member 26,

present invention attached to the beam; which yis disposed between the lugs 23 and is Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on4 engageable with the `opposite side of the beam` line 2 -2 of Fig, 1; flange 13 from that engageable by the hanger 8,51` l Fig.` 3 isa side elevational View of the hanger bar 10.V The bearing blocks 26 have a plurality of bar of the clamp; substantially flat contacting faces 27, four of l Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on which are hereinshown extending at right angles line 4 4 of Fig. 3; l to each other, which lie in planes at various dis- Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of one of the tances from the pivotal axis of the trunnions. 9,0.; clips `of the clamp with a portion broken away 25. In other words, the axis of the trunnions 25 to show the details: of construction. is eccentric with respect to the planes of the con- Fig. 6 is aside elevational view of the clip shown tactingv faces 27 and the block 26, being adjustin Fig. 5;. Y Y able about the axis of the trunnions 25, presents Fig. 7 is a front View of the adjustable block;` contacting faces of different distances from the 95;

and axis. 'I'hese contacting faces 27, being engage- Fig. 8 isa side view of the block shown in Fig. 7. able with the beam ange 13, permit the clamps Referring to the drawing, the clamp includes. to be adapted foruse with different size beams aichannel-shaped hanger bar 10 which has parand different thicknesses of anges by merely `,45 allel side flanges 11 and upper slightly concave rotating the bearing member or block 26 after 100 surfaces 12 adapted to engage one side, prefer selectingV the desired contacting face for the size ablythe lower` or under, of a beam flange l13 at of the beam used. point contact to afford a more rigid securing, as `The clips 20 have inverted L-shaped members will be later explained. 28 welded or otherwise secured to the inner sur; The hanger bar 10 has, wedge-shaped ends faces of the sides 22 to maintain the clips in as- 105 gradually increasing in depth toward the center sembled relation and the L-shaped members 28 of the bar and in transverse cross-section are have depending extensions 29 provided with rounded to provide oppositely inclined bottom aligned openings 30 slightly below the top sursurfaces 14 and 15. At the center ofthe bar 1() faces 12 of the bar 10. These openings 30 are there is a depressed seat 16 which has a central adapted to receive a bolt 31 which extends lon- 11n gitudinally of the bar 10 and within the channel thereof. The bolt 31 is provided at one end with a head 32 which engages the extension 29 of one of the clips 20 and at its opposite end has a threaded portion 33 which receives a nut 34 adapted to bear against the extensions 29 of the other clip 20v.

When the clamp is appieci to i-beam. the hanger bar 10 is positioned beneath the beam flange 13 and the clips 20 are positioned around the ends of the beam flange so that the bearing blocks 26 contact with the opposite side of the beam flange and the bolt 31 is then rotated to draw the clips 20 toward each other. Quring; the inward movement of the clips 2,0 the bearing blocks 26 engage the inner surface et the beam flange and tend to draw the clips and hanger bar l0, supported by the clips, upwardly toward the beam. At the same time the inclined pgrtgn of the clips 20, sliding on the inclined portions 1% and 15, of the hanger bar 10, tends to: crowd the hanger bar upwardly towards the. beam. When the clips arer tightened the flange. of the. I. beam is very tightly clamped between the. beari ing blocks 26 and the. upper surfaces 12 of thev i oil various widths and, in view ofthev pluralityof contacting faces, provided upon the bearing blocks, 26, adjustability of these4 blocks to presentdifferent contacting faces enables the4 clampl to be attached to flangesv or othery suitable structures of various thicknesses.

While I have described the. preferred embodi ment of the. invention, it is tobe understood that I am not to. be limited. thereto inasmuch as changes and. modifications may be resorted tov withoutV departing. from the spirit of the invention as denediin the appended'claims.

Having. thus described. myy invention I- claim- 1. A clamp. for beams. and. the like comprising a hanger bar engageable with onefside of-abeamflange,'clips on said hanger bar, bearing members adjustablyv mounted on said clips andprovided` with a plurality. of surfaces selectively engageableV with the opposite. side ofthe. beam flange, andmeans for rgidlydrawing. saidbearingY members and hanger. bar into engagement with said beamfflange.

2. A clampfork beams and thelike comprising a hanger bar engageable with one sideof a. beam flange, clips on saidhanger bar; adjustable bear.

. ing members pivotally mounted onsa'idelips-and provided with a plurality of: surfaces selectivelyengageable' with. the opposite side of. the beamflange, and means for. rigidly drawing said beariing members and hanger bar. into. engagement; with said beam flange.

3. A clamp for beams and.the.like comprising. a hanger bar engageable with onesideroffa' beam flange, clipson said hanger bar, bearingmembers pivotallyimountedon said clips onanaxistranse versely thereof andprovidedwith. a plurality. of surfaces selectively engageablewith the opposite. side of the beam flange, and means. for rigidly drawing. said bearingv members andv hangenban into engagement with saidbeamange.

4; A. clamp for. beams. andthelil. comprising a hanger bar engageable with one side of a beam flange, clips on said hanger bar, bearing members having a plurality of substantially flat faces and pivotally mounted on said clips, said faces being selectively engageable with the opposite side of 8G the beam ange, and means for rigidly drawing said bearing members and hanger bar into eneasement with said beam flange.

5. A clamp for beams and the like comprising a hanger bar engageable with one side of a beam flange, clips on said hanger bar, bearing members having a plurality of substantially flat faces and pivotally mounted on said clips on an axis eccentric with respect to said faces, said faces being engageable with the opposite side of the beamr iiange, and means for rigidly drawing said bearing members and hanger bar into engagement with said beam flange.

6, A clamp for beams and the like comprising a hanger bar engageable with one side of a beam flange, clips slidably mounted on saidv hanger bar, bearing membersv adjustablymounted on said clips` and provided with a plurality of sur. faces selectively engageable with the opposite side of the beam flange, and means forfdrawing said clips. toward each other to rigidly secure saidbeam flange between said bearing members and said hanger bar,

7. A clamp for beams and the like comprising a hanger bar engageable with one side of a beam flange, clipsslidably mounted onv said..hanger bar, bearingl membershaving a plurality of substantially fiat faces and pivotally mounted; on. said clips, sadfaces. being selectively engageable with the opposite. side of the beam flange, and means. fior drawing said clips toward. each other to. rigidly;I secu-re said beam ange between said bearing members'. and said hang-er bar.

8, A clamp for beams andthe like comprising a. hanger bar engageable with oneside of a beaml flange, clips. slidably mounted on said hanger bar, bearing members having a plurality of substantially flat faces and pivotally mounted onsaid clips on an axis transverse with respect tc the direction of movement of. said clips, said faces.- being selectively. engageable with the opposite sidel of; thebeam. flange, and: means fordrawing said clipstoward. eachy other'to rigidly secure. said. beam angebetween. said bearing. members and said hanger bar.

9,'. A clamp.fortbeams.` and the-like` comprising a hanger bar engageable with one-side of-a beam flange, clips slidably. mounted on said hanger bar, bearing members having a pluralityfof'f substantially flat faces. and` pivotally mounted on 130 saidl clips onv an` axis transverse withl respect to the direction of. movement of saidl clips and eccentric with, respect to-saidv faces, said faces being engageable with the opposite side of thebeam ange, and means for drawing, said clips toward 135 each other to rigidly secure said beam ange between said: bearing members and said hanger ban 10,. A clampforbeams andthe like comprising a hanger bar engageablewith` onesideof-fabeam 140 flange. and. having oppositely tapered. surfaces, clipshaving.- tapered surfaces engageable with the tapered: surfaces. of said hanger. bar and! slidably mounted on the latter, bearing members adjustably mounted onsaid clips and provided with a M5 plurality. of surfaces selectively engageable with the oppositeside. ofithebeam flange, and means foin-.drawing said clips toward each other to ,rigidly secure. said beamiiange-betweensaid bearingy members andr said-hanger-bar.

pivotally mounted on said clips on an axis eccentric with respect to said faces, said faces being engageable with the opposite side of the beam flange, and means for drawing said clips toward each other to rigidly secure said beam flange between said bearing members and said hanger bar.

J. DONALD PRESLEY. 

